890D.01/558: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:08 p.m.]
463. My 460, November 25.66 I have just received a formal note from General Catroux dated today with which he encloses a copy of the proclamation he intends to issue tomorrow morning. He states “at the moment of proclaiming Lebanese independence, I wish to confirm the terms of my letter of October 13 last and to reiterate to you the assurance that the treaty rights enjoyed by the United States in the States of the Levant will not suffer any impairment as a result of the new status conferred upon the States of Syria, Lebanon.”
The letter of October 13 was referred to in my telegram 412, October 14, 11 a.m., and was forwarded to the Department with despatch number 178, October 22.67
The proclamation itself is essentially as shown me privately 4 weeks ago (see my 435, October 31), however, in deference to British suggestions a few minor changes in the phraseology have been made.
Repeat to London and Cairo.